Permutation-lock.



H. e. souu. PERMUTATION LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-l7. I917.

1,274,097. Patented July 30, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Zgigaw 4 Gamm I H. "G. SOULE.

PEBMUTATION LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I7. 19H- all UNITED STATES HEBBEBT G SOU E, HIN N, IOWA.

PERMUTATION-LOCK. f

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1918.

Application filed August 17, 1917. Serial No. 186,734.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT G. SoULE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hinton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Permutation-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in permutation locks, and has for its object to provide a strong, simple lock of this nature which is especially adaptable for use on barns, sheds and other outbuildings. In carrying out my invention I provide a looking mechanism within a casing which is provided with a recess for receiving the end'of a sliding bolt. The lock is constructed with a lock bar adapted to engage the end of the slide bolt, and a lever provided with a dog adapted to enter slots in suitable tumblers when they are properly positioned, the construction being such that the lock bar can only be moved when the dog can enter the slots in the tumblers. Independent means are provided for operating the tumblers and the lock bar.

In practice, for convenience, I prefer to mount the lock on the door frame and the slide bolt on the door, and in case of double doors one member is mounted on each door, but this arrangement is arbitrary and may be varied.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 shows an elevation of my complete lock and bolt applied to a door of ordinary construction. I

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the lock showing the back plate removed and showing the lock bar in looking engagement with the bolt.

Fig. 3 is the same as Fig. 2, showing the lock bar in unlocked position and the slide bolt withdrawn.

Fig. 4 is a section along line 1-4: of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section along line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a perspective of a section along line 6-6 of Fig. 3, showing the various parts of the tumbler mechanism removed. 7

Fig. 7 is a bottom view of-the first tumbler wheel in the series.

Fig. 8 is a similar view of any of the other tumbler wheels.

In the drawings, 1 is the door and 2 the door frame, both being of any ordinary construction. Mounted on the door 1 are guides 3 and 4 in which slides a bolt 5- provided on one end with a T-shaped head to prevent it from sliding through the guides and on the other with a notch 6, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A knob 7 is provided for sliding the bolt 5 from the outside of the building and'a similar knob 8, projecting through a slot in the door, permits it to be moved from the inside.

In suitable alinement with the bolt 5 is a locking member having a casing 9 preferably comprising a solid metallic block, and a cover plate 10, the cover plate being adapted to be placed adjacent the surface of the door frame. Slidably mounted in a groove 11 in the casing 9 is a lock bar 12 having a notch 13 cut therein approximately the width of the slide bolt 5. On the under side of the lock bar 12 at each end are notched portions 14: (see Fig. 4:) engaged by notched stems 15 of knobs 16 projecting through the casing. By pushing the knobs 16, the lock bar 12 may be reciprocated in the groove 11. An opening 17 and a recess 18 in the casing 9 permits the slide bolt 5 to be moved in and out of the lock casing as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. When the lock bar 12 is in the extremity shown in Fig. 2, the

edge of the notch 13 projects into the notch 6 on the slide bolt 5 and prevents it from be ing withdrawn from the casing.

1 To keep the lock bar 12 from being moved when it is desired to prevent the door from being opened, the bolt 5 being in the position shown in Fig. 2, I provide a lever 19 pivoted at 20 and having one arm engaging a notch 21 in look bar 12. The lever is shown mounted in recess 22 in casing 9. Pivoted to the other arm of the lever is a dog 23 projecting through the recess 22 and having its free end movable in a slot 24, leading from recess 22 to a circular recess 25 in which is provided a tumbler mocha-- ni'sm 26 operated by a pinion 27 connected with the knob 28 on the outside of the easing 9.

The tumbler mechanism comprises a series of gear wheels 29, having slots 30 therein, placed one above the other on the stationary pivot 32 and separated by stationary disks 33. Rotation of the disks 33 is prevented by locking pins 34 projecting from their circumferences and engaging the recess 35 in the casing 9 (see Figs. 2 and 3). Each stationary disk is formed with a slot 36, similar to slots 30 in gears 29, in line with slot 24. Each gear 29 is provided on one surface with an annular groove 37 in which is an obstructing pin 38 placed anywhere along the groove. On the stationary disks 33 are lugs 39 projecting from the fiat surfaces and adapted to fit into the grooves 37 on the various gears. (See Fig. 5.) It will be seen that the gear wheels 29 can only be rotated a limited extent before pins 38 will engage the pins 39 on the stationary disks 33 and prevent further rotation. The pinion 27 is only as thick as a single gear wheel 29 but is so connected with knob 28 that it may be slid in and out to successively engage the various gears separately. Balls 4L0 pressed against the gears 29 by springs 41 provide a ratchet mechanism for preventing free rotation of the gears and for causing a clicking sound as each tooth of a gear passes by it. When the lock bar is in unlocked position, as in Fig. 3, the slot-s 30 in all the gears 29 are directly in register with each other and with the slot 24, whereby dog 23 may be inserted into the slots 30 as shown.

Assuming the door is unlocked and the bolt is wthdrawn, as in Fig. 3, and it is desired to lock the door, the bolt 5 is slid into the opening 17 and recess 18, and pressure applied to one of the knobs 16 to slide lock bar 12 to the extremity shown in Fig. 2, when the edge of notch 13 therein engages notch 6 on bolt 5 and prevents it from being withdrawn. When the lock bar is pushed to locked position the lever 19 is simul taneously rocked to withdraw dog 23 from slots 30. The pinion 27 is operated by means of knob 28 to successively engage and rotate the various gears 29 to move the slots 30 out of alinement with each other and with slot 24. Movement of the sliding lock bar 12 is then impossible, as it cannot be moved without rocking lever 19, and this is prevented by the dog 23 coming into contact with the circumference of gears 29. To unlock the lock the operator rotates each disk in the desired direction until this movement is further prevented by pins 38 contacting with pins 39 on stationary disks 33. Each gear is then rotated in the other direction apredetermined number of clicks, caused by ball ratchet 40, when the slot of each individual gear will be known, from calculations made during the assembling of the lock, to be in line with slot 2 1. When each gear has thus been roperly set, pressure is applied to the knobs 16 to move rock bar 12 to the position shown in Fig. 3 when the lever 19 will force dog 23 into the slots 30 and the edge of notch 13 on lock bar 12 will disengage notch 6 on slide bolt 5 and permit the slide bolt to be withdrawn from the lock casing.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a lock of simple construction which will be virtually burglar proof so far as discovery of the combination is concerned. Change of combination can be effected by interchanging gears 29 or the positions of pins 38 thereon, and also if desired by changing the position of pins 39 on the stationary disks 33. By making the recesses for the various elements in a solid block of metal, a more strong and durable construction is provided than has heretofore been attained in the cast and stamped sheet metal casing heretofore used. It will also be seen that if desired the door may be temporarily locked without disturbing the position of the tumblers by merely sliding down the lock bar 12 to engage slide bolt 5.

I claim as my invention:

In a permutation lock, a series of sepa rately rotatable tumblers, having slots and grooves therein, obstructions in said grooves, stationary disks disposed between said tumblers, means on said disks projecting into the grooves on said tumblers adapted to engage said obstructions, slots in said disks arranged directly beneath each other, means for rotating each tumbler separately to bring the slots in the tumblers into and out of alinement with those in the disks, a dog adapted to enter said slots when in alinement, and locking means controlled by said dog.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed myname.

HERBERT G. SOULE.

of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

